The already strained relationship between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took a turn for the worse as Trump accused Zelensky of being a “dictator without elections” in a recent social media post. Trump’s comments came following a false claim that Ukraine had initiated the conflict with Russia and demanded access to half of Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources.
In response, President Zelensky denounced Trump’s claims, accusing him of being influenced by Russian propaganda and urging Trump’s team to be more truthful. This exchange of words further escalated tensions between the two leaders.
The accusation of being a “dictator” from Trump was met with criticism from European leaders, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stating that it is dangerous to deny Zelensky his democratic legitimacy. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also expressed his support for Zelensky in a phone call, reaffirming Zelensky’s position as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader.
The ongoing conflict between the US and Ukraine is a cause for concern, especially in light of Russia’s continued aggression towards Ukraine. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation as tensions continue to rise between Trump and Zelensky.
Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting on this developing story.
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